’Youcan’tunderstand，BessWeareinsightoflandnow，andsoonweshallliebackandthinkaboutwhatwe’vedoneI’llgiveyouthreemonths’paywhenthepicture’sfinished，andnexttimeIhaveanymoreworkinhand——butthatdoesn’tmatterWon’tthreemonths’paymakeyouhatemeless？’
　　’No，itwon’t！Ihateyou，andI’llgoonhatingyouMrTorpenhowwon’tspeaktomeanymoreHe’salwayslookingatmaps。’
　　BessiedidnotsaythatshehadagainlaidsiegetoTorpenhow，orthatattheendofourpassionatepleadinghehadpickedherup，givenherakiss，andputheroutsidethedoorwiththerecommendationnottobealittlefoolHespentmostofhistimeinthecompanyoftheNilghai，andtheirtalkwasofwarinthenearfuture，thehiringoftransports，andsecretpreparationsamongthedockyardsHedidnotwishtoseeDicktillthepicturewasfinished。
　　’He’sdoingfirst-classwork，’hesaidtotheNilghai，’andit’squiteoutofhisregularlineBut，forthematterofthat，so’shisinfernalsoaking。’
　　’NevermindLeavehimaloneWhenhehascometohissensesagainwe’llcarryhimofffromthisplaceandlethimbreathecleanair。
　　PoorDick！Idon’tenvyyou，Torp，whenhiseyesfail。’
　　’Yes，itwillbeacaseof“Godhelpthemanwho’schainedtoourDavie。”
　　Theworstisthatwedon’tknowwhenitwillhappen，andIbelievetheuncertaintyandthewaitinghavesentDicktothewhiskeymorethananythingelse。’
　　’HowtheArabwhocuthisheadopenwouldgrinifheknew！’
　　’He’satperfectlibertytogrinifhecanHe’sdeadThat’spoorconsolationnow。’
　　IntheafternoonofthethirddayTorpenhowheardDickcallingforhim。
　　’Allfinished！’heshouted’I’vedoneit！Comein！Isn’tsheabeauty？
　　Isn’tsheadarling？I’vebeendowntohelltogether；butisn’tsheworthit？’
　　Torpenhowlookedattheheadofawomanwholaughed，——afull-lipped，hollow-eyedwomanwholaughedfromoutofthecanvasasDickhadintendedshewould。
　　’Whotaughtyouhowtodoit？’saidTorpenhow’ThetouchandnotionhavenothingtodowithyourregularworkWhatafaceitis！Whateyes，andwhatinsolence！’Unconsciouslyhethrewbackhisheadandlaughedwithher’She’sseenthegameplayedout，——Idon’tthinkshehadagoodtimeofit，——andnowshedoesn’tcareIsn’tthattheidea？’
　　’Exactly。’
　　’Wheredidyougetthemouthandchinfrom？Theydon’tbelongtoBess。’
　　’They’re——someoneelse’sButisn’titgood？Isn’titthunderinggood？
　　Wasn’titworththewhiskey？IdiditAloneIdidit，andit’sthebestI
　　cando。’Hedrewhisbreathsharply，andwhispered，’JustGod！
　　whatcouldInotdotenyearshence，ifIcandothisnow！——Bytheway，whatdoyouthinkofit，Bess？’
　　ThegirlwasbitingherlipsSheloathedTorpenhowbecausehehadtakennonoticeofher。
　　’Ithinkit’sjustthehorridest，beastliestthingIeversaw，’sheanswered，andturnedaway。
　　’Morethanyouwillbeofthatwayofthinking，youngwoman——Dick，there’sasortofmurderous，viperinesuggestioninthepoiseoftheheadthatIdon’tunderstand，’saidTorpenhow。
　　That’strick-work，’saidDick，chucklingwithdelightatbeingcompletelyunderstood’Icouldn’tresistonelittlebitofsheerswaggerIt’saFrenchtrick，andyouwouldn’tunderstand；butit’sgotatbyslewingroundtheheadatrifle，andatiny，tinyforeshorteningofonesideofthefacefromtheangleofthechintothetopoftheleftearThat，anddeepeningtheshadowunderthelobeoftheearItwasflagranttrick-work；but，havingthenotionfixed，Ifeltentitledtoplaywithit，——Oh，youbeauty！’
　　’Amen！SheisabeautyIcanfeelit。’
　　’Sowilleverymanwhohasanysorrowofhisown，’saidDick，slappinghisthigh’Heshallseehistroublethere，and，bytheLordHarry，justwhenhe’sfeelingproperlysorryforhimselfheshallthrowbackhisheadandlaugh，——assheislaughingI’veputthelifeofmyheartandthelightofmyeyesintoher，andIdon’tcarewhatcomesI’mtired，——awfullytiredIthinkI’llgettosleepTakeawaythewhiskey，ithasserveditsturn，andgiveBessiethirty-sixquid，andthreeoverforluckCoverthepicture。’
　　Hedroppedasleepinthelongchair，hidfacewhiteandhaggard，almostbeforehehadfinishedthesentenceBessietriedtotakeTorpenhow’shand’Aren’tyounevergoingtospeaktomeanymore？’shesaid；
　　butTorpenhowwaslookingatDick。
　　’Whatastockofvanitythemanhas！I’lltakehiminhandto-morrowandmakemuchofhimHedeservesit——Eh！whatwasthat，Bess？’
　　’NothingI’llputthingstidyherealittle，andthenI’llgoYoucouldn’tgivethethatthreemonths’paynow，couldyou？Hesaidyouwereto。’
　　TorpenhowgaveheracheckandwenttohisownroomsBessiefaithfullytidiedupthestudio，setthedoorajarforflight，emptiedhalfabottleofturpentineonaduster，andbegantoscrubthefaceoftheMelancoliaviciouslyThepaintdidnotsmudgequicklyenoughShetookapalette-knifeandscraped，followingeachstrokewiththewetdusterInfiveminutesthepicturewasaformless，scarredmuddleofcolours。
　　Shethrewthepaint-staineddusterintothestudiostove，stuckouthertongueatthesleeper，andwhispered，’Bilked！’assheturnedtorundownthestaircaseShewouldneverseeTorpenhowanymore，butshehadatleastdoneharmtothemanwhohadcomebetweenherandherdesireandwhousedtomakefunofherCashingthecheckwastheverycreamofthejesttoBessieThenthelittleprivateersailedacrosstheThames，tobeswallowedupinthegraywildernessofSouth-the-Water。
　　Dickslepttilllateintheevening，whenTorpenhowdraggedhimofftobedHiseyeswereasbrightashisvoicewashoarse’Let’shaveanotherlookatthepicture，’hesaid，insistentlyasachild。
　　’You——go——to——bed，’saidTorpenhow’Youaren’tatallwell，thoughyoumayn’tknowitYou’reasjumpyasacat。’
　　’Ireformto-morrowGood-night。’
　　Asherepassedthroughthestudio，Torpenhowliftedtheclothabovethepicture，andalmostbetrayedhimselfbyoutcries：’Wipedout！——scrapedoutandturpedout！He’sonthevergeofjumpsasitisThat’sBess，——thelittlefiend！Onlyawomancouldhavedonethat！-withtheinknotdryonthecheck，too！Dickwillberavingmadto-morrowItwasallmyfaultfortryingtohelpgutter-devilsOh，mypoorDick，theLordishittingyouveryhard！’
　　Dickcouldnotsleepthatnight，partlyforpurejoy，andpartlybecausethewell-knownCatherine-wheelsinsidehiseyeshadgivenplacetocracklingvolcanoesofmany-colouredfire’Spoutaway，’hesaidaloud。
　　’I’vedonemywork，andnowyoucandowhatyouplease。’Helaystill，staringattheceiling，thelong-pent-updeliriumofdrinkinhisveins，hisbrainonfirewithracingthoughtsthatwouldnotstaytobeconsidered，andhishandscrispedanddryHehadjustdiscoveredthathewaspaintingthefaceoftheMelancoliaonarevolvingdomeribbedwithmillionsoflights，andthatallhiswondrousthoughtsstoodembodiedhundredsoffeetbelowhistinyswingingplank，shoutingtogetherinhishonour，whensomethingcrackedinsidehistempleslikeanoverstrainedbowstring，theglitteringdomebrokeinward，andhewasaloneinthethicknight。
　　’I’llgotosleepTheroom’sverydarkLet’slightalampandseehowtheMelancolialooksThereoughttohavebeenamoon。’
　　ItwasthenthatTorpenhowheardhisnamecalledbyavoicethathedidnotknow，——intherattlingaccentsofdeadlyfear。
　　’He’slookedatthepicture，’washisfirstthought，ashehurriedintothebedroomandfoundDicksittingupandbeatingtheairwithhishands。
　　’Torp！Torp！whereareyou？Forpity’ssake，cometome！’
　　’What’sthematter？’
　　Dickclutchedathisshoulder’Matter！I’vebeenlyinghereforhoursinthedark，andyouneverheardmeTorp，oldman，don’tgoaway。
　　I’mallinthedarkInthedark，Itellyou！’
　　TorpenhowheldthecandlewithinafootofDick’seyes，buttherewasnolightinthoseeyesHelitthegas，andDickheardtheflamecatch。
　　ThegripofhisfingersonTorpenhow’sshouldermadeTorpenhowwince。
　　’Don’tleavemeYouwouldn’tleavemealonenow，wouldyou？I
　　can’tseeD’youunderstand？It’sblack，——quiteblack，——andIfeelasifI
　　wasfallingthroughitall。’
　　’Steadydoesit。’TorpenhowputhisarmroundDickandbegantorockhimgentlytoandfro。
　　’That’sgoodNowdon’ttalkIfIkeepveryquietforawhile，thisdarknesswillliftItseemsjustonthepointofbreakingH’sh！’
　　DickknithisbrowsandstareddesperatelyinfrontofhimThenightairwaschillingTorpenhow’stoes。
　　’Canyoustaylikethataminute？’hesaid’I’llgetmydressing-gownandsomeslippers。’
　　Dickclutchedthebed-headwithbothhandsandwaitedforthedarknesstoclearaway’Whatatimeyou’vebeen！’hecried，whenTorpenhowreturned’It’sasblackaseverWhatareyoubangingaboutinthedoor-way？’
　　’Longchair，——horse-blanket，——pillowGoingtosleepbyyouLiedownnow；you’llbebetterinthemorning。’
　　’Ishan’t！’Thevoicerosetoawail’MyGod！I’mblind！I’mblind，andthedarknesswillnevergoaway。’Hemadeasiftoleapfromthebed，butTorpenhow’sarmswereroundhim，andTorpenhow’schinwasonhisshoulder，andhisbreathwassqueezedoutofhimHecouldonlygasp，’Blind！’andwrigglefeebly。
　　’Steady，Dickie，steady！’saidthedeepvoiceinhisear，andthegriptightened’Biteonthebullet，oldman，anddon’tletthemthinkyou’reafraid，’ThegripcoulddrawnocloserBothmenwerebreathingheavily。
　　Dickthrewhisheadfromsidetosideandgroaned。
　　’Letmego，’hepanted’You’recrackingmyribsWe-wemustn’tletthemthinkwe’reafraid，mustwe，——allthepowersofdarknessandthatlot？’
　　’LiedownIt’sallovernow。’
　　’Yes，’saidDick，obediently’Butwouldyoumindlettingmeholdyourhand？IfeelasifIwantedsomethingtoholdontoOnedropsthroughthedarkso。’
　　Torpenhowthrustoutalargeandhairypawfromthelongchair。
　　Dickclutchedittightly，andinhalfanhourhadfallenasleep。
　　Torpenhowwithdrewhishand，and，stoopingoverDick，kissedhimlightlyontheforehead，asmendosometimeskissawoundedcomradeinthehourofdeath，toeasehisdeparture。
　　InthegraydawnTorpenhowheardDicktalkingtohimselfHewasadriftontheshorelesstidesofdelirium，speakingveryquickly——
　　’It’sapity，——agreatpity；butit’shelped，anditmustbeeaten，MasterGeorgeSufficientuntothedayistheblindnessthereof，and，further，puttingasideallMelancoliasandfalsehumours，itisofobviousnotoriety——suchasminewas——thatthequeencandonowrongTorpdoesn’tknowthatI’lltellhimwhenwe’realittlefartherintothedesert。
　　Whatabunglethoseboatmenaremakingofthesteamer-ropes！
　　They’llhavethatfour-inchhawserchafedthroughinaminuteItoldyouso——thereshegoes！Whitefoamongreenwater，andthesteamerslewingroundHowgoodthatlooks！I’llsketchitNo，Ican’tI’mafflictedwithophthalmiaThatwasoneofthetenplaguesofEgypt，anditextendsuptheNileintheshapeofcataractHa！that’sajoke，TorpLaugh，yougravenimage，andstandclearofthehawserIt’llknockyouintothewaterandmakeyourdressalldirty，Maisiedear。’
　　’Oh！’saidTorpenhow’ThishappenedbeforeThatnightontheriver。’
　　’She’llbesuretosayit’smyfaultifyougetmuddy，andyou’requitenearenoughtothebreakwaterMaisie，that’snotfairAh！Iknewyou’dmiss。
　　Lowandtotheleft，dearButyou’venoconvictionDon’tbeangry，darlingI’dcutmyhandoffifitwouldgiveyouanythingmorethanobstinacyMyrighthand，ifitwouldserve。’
　　’Nowwemustn’tlistenHere’sanislandshoutingacrossseasofmisunderstandingwithavengeanceButit’sshoutingtruth，I
　　fancy，’saidTorpenhow。
　　ThebabblecontinuedItallboreuponMaisieSometimesDicklecturedatlengthonhiscraft，thenhecursedhimselfforhisfollyinbeingenslavedHepleadedtoMaisieforakiss——onlyonekiss——beforeshewentaway，andcalledtohertocomebackfromVitry-sur-Marne，ifshewould；butthroughallhisravingshebadeheavenandearthwitnessthatthequeencoulddonowrong。
　　Torpenhowlistenedattentively，andlearnedeverydetailofDick’slifethathadbeenhiddenfromhimForthreedaysDickravedthroughthepast，andthenanaturalsleep’Whatastrainhehasbeenrunningunder，poorchap！’saidTorpenhow’Dick，ofallmen，handinghimselfoverlikeadog！AndIwaslecturinghimonarrogance！IoughttohaveknownthatitwasnousetojudgeamanButIdiditWhatademonthatgirlmustbe！Dick’sgivenherhislife，——confoundhim！——andshe’sgivenhimonekissapparently。’
　　’Torp，’saidDick，fromthebed，’gooutforawalkYou’vebeenheretoolongI’llgetupHi！ThisisannoyingIcan’tdressmyselfOh，it’stooabsurd！’
　　TorpenhowhelpedhimintohisclothesandledhimtothebigchairinthestudioHesatquietlywaitingunderstrainednervesforthedarknesstoliftItdidnotliftthatday，northenextDickadventuredonavoyageroundthewallsHehithisshinsagainstthestove，andthissuggestedtohimthatitwouldbebettertocrawlonallfours，onehandinfrontofhimTorpenhowfoundhimonthefloor。